Comments on: Your Speaker This Evening, Dr. Charles Nemeroff http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:40:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Nancy Elaine Bowling http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/#comment-402689 Nancy Elaine Bowling Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:06:40 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16321#comment-402689 My sister and my entire family have been victims of a horrible device made by Cyberonics called the vagal nerve stimulator. Not only did Cyberonics pay Nemeroff, but they gave him an unrestricted grant to his department. My precious sister had the VNS installed to control her seizure disorder, but instead it not only made them horribly worse, but landed her in a mental institution suffering from a psychosis, another documented side effect. We are talking about a highly educated young woman, who went to Nyack Christian college on a basketball skolarship, then on to nursing school to become a registered nurse, and meanwhile raising her precious 10 year old daughter by herself. She also was in the process of purchasing her first home. All of that is gone. The implant was done on Feb. 26, 2008 and she is still in the institution. My parents who are in their 70's have been raising her daughter who cannot fully understand where her mommy has been all this time and why she can't come home. There have been so many people who have been harmed by this device and yet it is still being used. They took my sisters' out, but the effects it has caused might never go away. When and if she comes home from this institution she will truly be hit hard when she sees all that is lost. Nemeroff, I don't care how many plaques you have on your wall claiming how educated you are. If I had my way, you would have a VNS shoved right up your but. My sister and my entire family have been victims of a horrible device made by Cyberonics called the vagal nerve stimulator. Not only did Cyberonics pay Nemeroff, but they gave him an unrestricted grant to his department. My precious sister had the VNS installed to control her seizure disorder, but instead it not only made them horribly worse, but landed her in a mental institution suffering from a psychosis, another documented side effect. We are talking about a highly educated young woman, who went to Nyack Christian college on a basketball skolarship, then on to nursing school to become a registered nurse, and meanwhile raising her precious 10 year old daughter by herself. She also was in the process of purchasing her first home. All of that is gone. The implant was done on Feb. 26, 2008 and she is still in the institution. My parents who are in their 70’s have been raising her daughter who cannot fully understand where her mommy has been all this time and why she can’t come home. There have been so many people who have been harmed by this device and yet it is still being used. They took my sisters’ out, but the effects it has caused might never go away. When and if she comes home from this institution she will truly be hit hard when she sees all that is lost. Nemeroff, I don’t care how many plaques you have on your wall claiming how educated you are. If I had my way, you would have a VNS shoved right up your but.

]]> By: 4ME2C http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/#comment-379730 4ME2C Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:14:19 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16321#comment-379730 There is no SOLID evidence that schizophrenia is caused by genes. All the data seems to be "theoretical" or the data "might be a good indicator of..." but nothing ever IS. Am J Psychiatry 2008; 165:497-506 Schizophrenia Candidate Genes: Are We Really Coming Up Blank? http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/165/4/420 And on the subject of drugs, they just mask problems, like alcohol, but with different side effects. These drugs don't fix anything. It's simple really, lets take SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors) that help fix a "chemical imbalance". I'd like to see the "serotonin" readings in my brain before and after I take this drug and what the correct or balanced level is... unfortunately one CAN'T measure the serotonin levels in the brain of a living person. And again if that was a problem then what about the idea of eating foods that effect the serotonin levels in the body? Hmm... something to think about. There is no SOLID evidence that schizophrenia is caused by genes. All the data seems to be “theoretical” or the data “might be a good indicator of…” but nothing ever IS.

Am J Psychiatry 2008; 165:497-506
Schizophrenia Candidate Genes: Are We Really Coming Up Blank?
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/165/4/420

And on the subject of drugs, they just mask problems, like alcohol, but with different side effects. These drugs don’t fix anything. It’s simple really, lets take SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors) that help fix a “chemical imbalance”. I’d like to see the “serotonin” readings in my brain before and after I take this drug and what the correct or balanced level is… unfortunately one CAN’T measure the serotonin levels in the brain of a living person. And again if that was a problem then what about the idea of eating foods that effect the serotonin levels in the body? Hmm… something to think about.

]]> By: C http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/#comment-379625 C Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:39:01 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16321#comment-379625 J, With all due respect, you still have not asked Truthman30's question with definitive data or hard evidence. All I see so far is sci-bable ... J, With all due respect, you still have not asked Truthman30’s question with definitive data or hard evidence.

All I see so far is sci-bable …

]]> By: C http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/#comment-379624 C Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:37:32 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16321#comment-379624 J, With all due resect, you still have not asked Truthman30's question with definitive data or hard evidence. All I see so far is sci-bable ... J, With all due resect, you still have not asked Truthman30’s question with definitive data or hard evidence.

All I see so far is sci-bable …

]]> By: Lisa Van S http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/#comment-377814 Lisa Van S Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:38:46 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16321#comment-377814 "J" "Neuropsychpharmacology". Board Certification, nope, doesnt exist!! NCAP Members are well payed by the Pharmaceutical Industry. Nemeroff is a great example of their financial ties. Dr. John Mann is another, and I hope he is on Senator Grassley's radar screen!! “J”

“Neuropsychpharmacology”. Board Certification, nope, doesnt exist!! NCAP Members are well payed by the Pharmaceutical Industry. Nemeroff is a great example of their financial ties. Dr. John Mann is another, and I hope he is on Senator Grassley’s radar screen!!

]]> By: J http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/#comment-377760 J Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:40:19 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16321#comment-377760 truthman30, Here's what you asked for. Using SERT as an example: Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 32 (2008) 1735–1739 Journal of Neurochemistry, 2001, 79, 237-247 JPET 308:679–687, 2004 Neuropsychopharmacology (2005) 30, 2230–2235 Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2003, 42, 1210 – 1250 Biochemical Pharmacology 2006,72,1633-1645 J. Mol. Biol. (2001) 307, 357-377 Chem. Rev. 1997, 97, 1359-1472 J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 4345–4361 I trust you can put all the pieces together and see the whole picture. If not, here it is in brief: The genetic sequence determines the amino acid sequence of proteins which in turn controls protein folding and ligand recognition. Altered genes result in an altered amino acid sequence which can alter the protein tertiary structure and/or ligand recognition. Since neurotransmission is controlled purely by molecular recognition a dysfunction in the sequence of molecular recognition events due to an altered protein, whether a receptor or an enzyme, disrupts neurotransmission and the resulting behavior of the person is then referred to as psychiatric disease. The goal of a pharmaceutical is to make up for this dysfunction. But, it's not that simple and not every drug works for every person - because of genetics and protein structure. That's why the future goal is to be able to use genetics to determine which drug will work the best for a particular person based on their genome. FYI I'm not a psychiatrist or a psychologist and I don't work for a drug company. truthman30,
Here’s what you asked for.
Using SERT as an example:

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 32 (2008) 1735–1739

Journal of Neurochemistry, 2001, 79, 237-247

JPET 308:679–687, 2004

Neuropsychopharmacology (2005) 30, 2230–2235

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2003, 42, 1210 – 1250

Biochemical Pharmacology 2006,72,1633-1645

J. Mol. Biol. (2001) 307, 357-377

Chem. Rev. 1997, 97, 1359-1472

J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 4345–4361

I trust you can put all the pieces together and see the whole picture.

If not, here it is in brief:
The genetic sequence determines the amino acid sequence of proteins which in turn controls protein folding and ligand recognition. Altered genes result in an altered amino acid sequence which can alter the protein tertiary structure and/or ligand recognition. Since neurotransmission is controlled purely by molecular recognition a dysfunction in the sequence of molecular recognition events due to an altered protein, whether a receptor or an enzyme, disrupts neurotransmission and the resulting behavior of the person is then referred to as psychiatric disease. The goal of a pharmaceutical is to make up for this dysfunction. But, it’s not that simple and not every drug works for every person - because of genetics and protein structure. That’s why the future goal is to be able to use genetics to determine which drug will work the best for a particular person based on their genome.

FYI
I’m not a psychiatrist or a psychologist and I don’t work for a drug company.

]]> By: Matthew Holford http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/#comment-377556 Matthew Holford Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:06:15 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16321#comment-377556 Thom wrote: "...We know for instance that many mental illnesses have genetic underpinnings..." No, Thom, we don't *know* that. That is received wisdom, put forward by people who have a very real (financial) interest in our believing it. It remains a possibility, which may inform our understanding. Nothing more. However, assuming that the underlying cause of mental "illness" is genetic, I regret that drugs do not appear able to contribute anything to a solution. They don't appear even to be capable of contributing to palliative care. The Nematode is a charlatan: he claims massive expertise; expertise that entitles him to exclude criticism, and yet has never fixed anybody. He has been rewarded for his incompetence with large amounts of moolah. I find that grotesque. So do many others. Matt Thom wrote:
“…We know for instance that many mental illnesses have genetic underpinnings…”

No, Thom, we don’t *know* that. That is received wisdom, put forward by people who have a very real (financial) interest in our believing it. It remains a possibility, which may inform our understanding. Nothing more.

However, assuming that the underlying cause of mental “illness” is genetic, I regret that drugs do not appear able to contribute anything to a solution. They don’t appear even to be capable of contributing to palliative care.

The Nematode is a charlatan: he claims massive expertise; expertise that entitles him to exclude criticism, and yet has never fixed anybody. He has been rewarded for his incompetence with large amounts of moolah. I find that grotesque. So do many others.

Matt

]]> By: AA http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/#comment-377539 AA Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:47:49 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16321#comment-377539 Thom, As one who has suffered numerous side effects from psychotropic meds, including a hearing loss, I would be interested in the same research that truthman has asked for. Also, what criteria do you use to define a drug as beneficial? A major problem is the professional's definition of beneficial is different from the patient's. So that is why I was asking. Thom,

As one who has suffered numerous side effects from psychotropic meds, including a hearing loss, I would be interested in the same research that truthman has asked for.

Also, what criteria do you use to define a drug as beneficial?

A major problem is the professional’s definition of beneficial is different from the patient’s. So that is why I was asking.

]]> By: truthman30 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/#comment-377485 truthman30 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:30:44 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16321#comment-377485 Hmmm Thom.. Nice try at avoiding my questions... Hmmm Thom..

Nice try at avoiding my questions…

]]> By: Thom http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/your-speaker-this-evening-dr-charles-nemeroff/#comment-377484 Thom Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:25:24 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16321#comment-377484 Truthman, do you and supremacy claus need to get a room together? you seem like flip sides of the same coin. Truthman, do you and supremacy claus need to get a room together? you seem like flip sides of the same coin.

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